Troy woman hopes to get justice for son who was murdered in Detroit

Troy resident Jeremy Thompson's Dodge Durango was stopped at a Detroit railroad crossing when he was fatally shot and killed.

He was driving his friend to a house in the city -- he would often be the one to help his friends out, said his mother, Mary Thomspon.

"He was the friend that all his friends called when they needed a favor," said Mary, 50, also of Troy.

While his car sat idling around 4 a.m. May 1 at Seven Mile and Sherwood, between Mound Road and Van Dyke Avenue, Thompson -- a machinist and former student at Oakland Community College Auburn Hills -- was approached by a man with a handgun who tried to rob him.

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The moving train in front of him blocked a him from getting away from the shooting.

When the 25-year-old tried to drive away, the suspect shot in his direction. Jeremy suffered fatal wounds and died in Detroit.

Mary held a Michigan Crime Stoppers conference Tuesday, where she pleaded for the public's help in identifying her son's killer. The organization is offering up to $2,500 for information that leads to an arrest in the case.

The suspect was described by Detroit police as a black man who is approximately 25 to 30 years old, around 5-foot-10 with a medium build and dark complexion, brown eyes, short faded hair and a thin goatee. Authorities said he was wearing an earring in his right ear, and had on a white T-shirt and black pants.

Jeremy, a trade school International Honor Society member and a part of the fraternity Phi Theta Kappa, had been planning to move back in with his parents that weekend.

"He had all of his stuff in the back of the car," said his mother through tears. "Anybody could've been sitting at that train ... it's just hard for me to know what to say."

Jeremy was a hard worker, said Mary. He worked the afternoon shift at Proto Gage -- located in the Sterling Heights area -- and was saving his money to someday move to northern Michigan. However, he was also very laid back with friends and family, offering to help whenever he could.

"He was always a very responsible kid," she said. "I didn't worry about him."

He loved the outdoors, hunting and riding go-carts with his friends, Mary said.

After his death, Mary and some friends went into the Detroit neighborhood close to the train tracks where her son was shot. She said all the residents wanted to be helpful, and were all very nice.

"I worry about people in that neighborhood," she said recently, "there's kids playing in the street ... (and) there's a crazy person in that neighborhood -- they've got to get this guy off the streets,"

At his funeral in May, Mary said she remembered writing more than 250 thank-you cards for those who attended Jeremy's funeral.

But there were many more who came, she said.

Anyone who has information regarding the May 1 shooting is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-SPEAK-UP or 1-800-773-2587.

Staff writer John Turk covers the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, police and general assignment. He can be reached at 248-745-4613.